Why we cry?

Well, let’s use science to explain why do people actually cry when they feel sad or happy. Basically, people and animals has the tear ducts located under upper eyelids. These tear ducts are the reason why people can cry and can’t hold the tears that comes out. Tear ducts generated salty-liquid or tears immediately when we are in high level of emotion either sadness, physical pain or distress. The tears resulted from emotional responses are what we called “emotional tears”.

There are three types of tears being produced. Basal tears that keep the moist in eye from dryness. Second type is reflex tears which flows out when the eye becomes irritated as result of dust or bactery. And lastly is the emotional tears will be discussed more here.

Researchers have found out that more manganese and prolactin produced in emotional tears as to compare with other types of tears. Manganese is the element that affect temperament, whereas prolactin a protein that regulates milk production. It is claimed that sobbing out emotional tears may help in relieving pain. The process is when outside sources(lost, love, etc) or inside sources(self-realization one’s life) triggers emotion and affect us, the neuro system stimulates brain to send signal to the tear ducts/glands which will be translated to production of tears. And when those tears flush out through the eyes, excesses amount of hormones and chemicals are released as to balance the body’s stress levels. Thus, while crying we tend to cry more and feel better aftermath.

Crying in the public when everyone stares at you or in your room with no one notice is a choice. Because emotional tear is most likely produced as a means of communication to relate with others, crying without any person notice may not always healthy. Just like an infant, it express pain, fears, hunger without words but cry. In the progress, adults also crying as a kind of bonding with other humans. People express crying as a mean to comfort and receive support from others. Like culturally accepted reason to cry together is in funeral. Besides they cry to relieve tension, they are communicating and comforting each other at the same time.

Human sheds tears for various reasons, whether because of physically or psychologically necessities like moisturing eyes, relaxing irritation, and relieving pain or stress. Moreover, tears also a way of conveying communication. All the reasons that human cry absolutely can make you to buy boxes of tissue. However, the fact is crying is acceptable and it helps you to arrive at calm state. So, eventually crying, weeping or sobbing is not bad at all.

“ The first accepted reason to cry is probably death. Grieving includes crying and often times it was believed that if someone did not cry, they would suffer physically because they did not release their pain. Experiences in life and love are other reasons society allows us to cry. Women have been allowed to cry more than men traditionally, but the benefits of crying seem to suggest that men need to cry more. Cultures around the world have crying out of obligation, for show, and for grief and pain. Each culture defines where and when it is acceptable to cry. Cultures, in some parts of the world, sometimes determine the length of crying and mourning. For example, in the Zuni culture, a chief allows the mourners of the dead to cry for four days after which the chief says that the death occurred four years ago, and now the mourning may end. ” - Why We Laugh and Cry

Sources -

“Why Do People Cry?” (2006). Retrieved from Scienceline http://scienceline.org/2006/10/23/ask-driscoll-tears/